Chapter I   General Provision

Article 1 Nature of the Competition

"Inheriting the Legacy of Xuantang: Global Chinese High School Students' Rhythmic Response and Poetry Competition Honoring Jao Tsung-I" (hereafter referred to as "the Competition") is a non-profit event jointly organized by Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU),the Jao Tsung-I Foundation of The University of Hong Kong, the Jao Tsung-I Academy for Sinology at Hong Kong Baptist University, and Friends of the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole at The University of Hong Kong. Co-organizers include the Dr. Simon Siu Man Suen Foundation, the Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce, the Jao Tsung-I Academic and Art Museum at Sun Yat-sen University, and the Jao Studies Alliance. The Competition is open to high school students worldwide and operates under public oversight.

Article 2 Purpose of the Competition

Adhering to the guiding principles of “promoting the scholarly spirit of Jao Tsung-I, preserving traditional culture; fostering university and high school collaboration to cultivate cultural talents, and innovating methods to globally disseminating Chinese culture,” the Competition adopts an international format to bridge humanities education between secondary and tertiary institutions." It aims to ignite students' interest in classical poetry, enhance their cultural literacy and international perspectives, inform reforms in high school Chinese curricula, and nurture future ambassadors for Chinese culture.

Article 3 Principles of the Competition

1. The Competition is a non-profit event and does not charge any entry fees.

2. The evaluation process is governed by the principles of fairness and impartiality. A sound and comprehensive set of evaluation criteria and procedures will be established to ensure that all participants are treated equitably.

3. The Competition highlights professional standards by appointing an expert judging panel responsible for designing the competition tasks and evaluating submissions.

Article 4 Format of the Competition

The Competition focuses on the composition of classical Chinese poetry, with evaluation based on elements such as theme, expression, prosody, and diction. Participants are required to compose poems in rhymed response to the works of Professor Jao Tsung-I, emulating the rhyme schemes and structural patterns of his poetry. This exercise aims to foster a deeper appreciation of the aesthetic and philosophical values embedded in Professor Jao's work, while showcasing how contemporary youth can revitalize classical poetic forms within a traditional framework. The Competition is open to Chinese-speaking high school students worldwide, with individual registration and participation.

Chapter II Organizational Structure

Article 5 Organizing Committee

The Organizing Committee of the Competition (hereinafter referred to as the"Committee") is composed of staff from BNBU and other co-organizers and co-sponsors. The Committee consists of one Chair, three Vice-Chairs, one   Secretary-General, and several members. The Chair is Prof. Chen Zhi, President of BNBU and Director of the Institute for Communication Studies of Chinese Culture (ICSCC).

The Committee is responsible for formulating and revising the Competition Regulations, implementing plans, issuing announcements, and overseeing all aspects of the competition's operations, including but not limited to day-to-day administration, publicity and outreach, internal and external communications,inquiry response, submission processing, website maintenance, event coordination, and logistical support. The Committee is also tasked with securing funding and managing finances to ensure the smooth and successful execution of the Competition.

All Committee members are expected to fulfill their duties with integrity, cooperate effectively, and uphold the principles of transparency, safety, and fairness throughout the competition. During the evaluation process, no individual shall exploit their position to engage in any misconduct that could compromise the integrity of the results. Any such violations will be subject to disciplinary action. In cases of serious misconduct or suspected illegal activities, the matter will be referred to the relevant authorities for legal proceedings.

The full list of Committee members will be announced separately.

Article 6 Review Committee

The Review Committee is composed of experts selected by the Organizing Committee, including scholars in traditional poetry, professors in the humanities, and international sinologists. The Committee is responsible for setting

competition tasks, formulating the competition rules, evaluating and scoring submissions, determining award rankings, providing commentary and recommendations for outstanding works, and addressing objections or appeals related to the evaluation process and awards decisions. The Chair of the Review Committee is jointly nominated by the organizing and hosting institutions, and holds ultimate responsibility for all evaluation outcomes.

   Members of the Review Committee are expected to demonstrate a genuine

passion for Chinese culture, a commitment to education, and a high level of cultural literacy. They must also uphold strong professional ethics, possess deep subject-matter expertise, adhere to principles, maintain integrity, and perform their duties with diligence and impartiality. If a serious evaluation error results in adverse social consequences concerning the competition outcome, the responsible member(s) of the Review Committee shall bear the corresponding accountability.

The list of Review Committee members will be announced separately.

Article 7 Supervisory Committee

The Supervisory Committee is composed of representatives from the Jao Tsung-I Foundation and experts in classical poetry, invited to oversee the implementation of the competition and the determination of award results. The Committee is responsible for responding to public concerns and objections, and ensuring the non-profit nature of the competition as well as the fairness and impartiality of the evaluation process. The Supervisory Committee consists of one Chair and several members.

The list of Supervisory Committee members will be announced separately.

Chapter III Timeline and Implementation Measures

Article 8 Timeline

May 21: Official launch ceremony. Website activation, release of regulations, announcements, and competition tasks. First lecture in the Appreciation of Professor Jao Tsung-I's Poetry series.

May 21 - September 20: Participant registration and submission of entries.

September 21 - October 20: Evaluation period by the Review Committee.

October 21 - October 31: Announcement and public display of evaluation results.

November 18: Award ceremony at BNBU.

Article 9 Eligibility

The Competition welcomes participation from all currently enrolled high school students worldwide who are proficient in the Chinese language. 

Article 10 Format

The Competition will be conducted online through the official website and organized by BNBU. A panel of experts from the Review Committee will develop four sets of poetic prompts. Participants may choose one or two sets and compose buyun poems based on the prescribed thyme schemes. Entries must be submitted online within the specified time frame, with a maximum of two submissions per participant.

Article 11 Launch

On May 21, 2025, the Organizing Committee will publish the competition launch announcement on the official website of BNBU. Co-organizers and supporting institutions will share the announcement through media outlets and their WeChat public accounts.

Article 12 Registration and Enrollment

From the date of the official launch announcement, participants may log in to the official website of BNBU, click on the "Inheriting the Legacy of Xuantang: Global Chinese High School Students' Rhythmic Response and Poetry Competition Honoring Jao Tsung-I" link to register and submit their personal information.

Article 13 Pre-Competition Lectures

Prior to the competition, the Organizing Committee will host a series of lectures on the appreciation of Professor Jao Tsung-I's poetry, as well as an exhibition showcasing his scholarly contributions. These events will be held both online and on-site, free of charge, and open to the public, including cultural enthusiasts and Jao scholars.

Article 14 Competition Process

The Competition will be organized by BNBU and conducted online from May 21 to September 20, 2025. Participants are required to compose buyun (rhythmic response) poems based on the selected works of Professor Jao Tsung-I. Submissions

should convey a positive and uplifting message, reflecting Professor Jao's academic spirit and literary artistry. The Review Committee will evaluate the entries, and an award ceremony will be held at BNBU.

Chapter IV Awards and Evaluation

Article 15 Awards 

The Competition will confer First, Second, and Third Prizes, as well as Excellence Awards. All awardees will receive certificates and monetary prizes. Selected outstanding works will be published on the website of ICSCC at BNBU.

The award structure is as follows:

- First Prize (3 winners): RMB 20,000 each. 

- Second Prize (10 winners): RMB 10,000 each. 

- Third Prize (15 winners): RMB 5,000 each. 

- Excellence Award (20 winners): RMB 1,000 each. 

Article 16 Submission Requirements

Submitted poems must adhere to the structural conventions of classical Chinese verse while reflecting modernity and the spirit of the times. All submissions must be original works by the participants. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification. The Competition does not accept AI-generated content, upon verification, any such entry will be disqualified, with prizes and certificates revoked and a public announcement issued.

Article 17 Evaluation Process

The Organizing Committee will formulate the evaluation plan, and the Review Committee will be responsible for the evaluation of all submissions. Each submission will be blind-reviewed and scored by at least two judges. This will be followed by a second-round review and a final evaluation to determine the award recipients.

Article 18 Award Determination

All scores will be verified with the respective judges' signatures. Each award decision will be reviewed and approved by the Chair of the Review Committee. Upon confirmation, the list of winners will be published, and award certificates will be issued.

Article 19 Certificates

Award certificates will be issued in printed form by the Organizing Committee and stamped with the official seal of BNBU.

Article 20 Evaluation Criteria

Each entry will be evaluated on a scale of 100 points, as follows:

1. Formal Accuracy (45 points): The poems must meet the basic requirements of classical prosody:

(1) Parallelism (15 points): Pairs of lines must exhibit symmetrical structure and semantic correspondence to create aesthetic balance.

  (2) Rhyme (15 points): The poems must adhere to the rhyming conventions of the "Ping Shui Yun" rhyme system, ensuring tonal harmony and consistency throughout.

(3) Tone (15 points): The poems should observe strict tonal alternation, producing a cadence marked by rhythmic contrast and musicality.

2. Language (20 points): The language should be natural and fluent, with appropriate rhetorical devices and well-chosen allusions.

3. Emotional Appeal (20 points): The poems should evoke reflection or emotional resonance in the reader.

4. Originality and Creativity (15 points): The poem should present a fresh perspective and exhibit skillful structure.

Chapter V Governance and Oversight

Article 21 Evaluation Regulations

Members of the Review Committee shall not disclose any information related to the evaluation process to external parties. They are strictly prohibited from photographing or copying submissions, or making unauthorized public statements

regarding the Competition. Any violation resulting in serious consequences will lead to disciplinary action and corresponding accountability.

Article 22 Conflict of Interest Policy

Any individual whose involvement may affect the fairness of the evaluation process, including members of the Organizing Committee and invited experts, must submit a formal request for recusal if they have relatives participating in the competition.

Article 23 Objection Handling Mechanism

Participants or members of the public who raise objections regarding the evaluation process or results may file an appeal with the Organizing Committee and submit relevant supporting materials. The Organizing Committee and the Supervisory

Committee will convene a panel of experts to investigate and review the case. The outcome of the review will be communicated in a timely manner.

Article 24 Financial Guarantee

The Competition is a non-profit event and does not operate for commercial gain. No fees shall be charged to participants, their parents, or their schools. All expenses will be covered by the organizing institutions, and all funds shall be used exclusively for the purposes of the Competition.

Article 25 Safety and Emergency Response Mechanism

The Organizing Committee shall establish a dedicated safety team responsible for formulating contingency plans and implementing emergency response measures to ensure the successful execution of the Competition.

Chapter VI Other Provisions

Article 26 Publicity Channels

The official website of the Competition is maintained by the Institute for Communication Studies of Chinese Culture at BNBU (https://icscc.uic.edu.cn/poetry),

and is responsible for releasing competition notices, announcements, and other related information. The official WeChat account "中华文化传播研究院ICSCC" will simultaneously share these announcements.

Article 27 Use of Award-Winning Works

Authors retain the copyright to their submissions. However, for purposes such as publicity, education, and other non-profit uses, the organizers are granted a partial non-exclusive license to the award-winning works. This includes, but is not limited to, the right to publish, modify, reproduce, broadcast, compile, and perform or film the works across various media platforms. Unauthorized use by third parties is strictly prohibited. 

Article 28 The Organizing Committee of the Competition shall be responsible for the final interpretation of these regulations.

(The Chinese version of these articles shall govern, and the English translation is for reference only.)